Traffic halts in Guwahati as candidates stage strength show before filing papers

Guwahati: Traffic in Guwahati came to a standstill for hours on Monday as candidates for the city’s five assembly constituencies took out nomination rallies, triggering major congestion across key roads.

Among those filing papers was BJP candidate Pradyut Bordoloi from Dispur, who joined the party five days ago after quitting the Congress.




BJP candidates Pradyut Bordoloi in Dispur, Diplu Ranjan Sarma in New Guwahati, Vijay Kumar Gupta in Guwahati Central and the party’s ally Assam Gana Parishad’s Tapan Das in Dimoria (SC) submitted their nomination papers for the April 9 assembly elections.

The BJP and AGP candidates held a joint rally from the Veterinary Playground at Khanapara to Ganeshguri, covering more than 5 km. The party claimed around 40,000 supporters and workers joined the procession.

The rally was stopped at Ganeshguri and did not proceed to the district commissioner’s office at Hengerabari after the district administration, in an order issued on Sunday, barred rallies on the 1-km Ganeshguri-Hengerabari stretch to prevent congestion on the narrow road.

Congress candidate Santanu Borah filed his nomination for New Guwahati, while Mira Borthakur Goswami filed for Dispur. Their ally Assam Jatiya Parishad candidate Kunki Chowdhury filed for Guwahati Central.

Bordoloi said, “I have embarked on a new journey with gratitude. I thank all the party workers including the grass root workers, for extending their utmost support. I wold congratulate my opposition candidate (Mira Borthakur Goswami) and want to remind her that the final decision will be given by the votes in the ballot box.”

Goswami said voters had seen “the injustice that has taken place in the state” and would “give a befitting reply to them in the polls who did injustice to the people.”

AGP candidate Tapan Das said his nomination came after nearly three decades in the party. “After 27 years of service to the AGP, I was nominated and for this, I thank Atul Bora, Himanta Biswa Sarma, Dilip Saikia... I also seek the blessings of the people of Assam,” he said.

Kunki Chowdhury, contesting against BJP veteran Vijay Kumar Gupta in Guwahati Central, said she was new to politics but confident of working for the welfare of the people in her constituency.

Gupta appealed for public support ahead of the election. “We need the blessings of the people of Assam, Guwahati. I am grateful to our central leadership for this opportunity,” he said.